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As the opioid epidemic continues to grow in New Jersey, and throughout the nation, Gov. Chris Christie issued a proclamation making Aug. 31 "Overdose Awareness Day" throughout the Garden State.

“Today, New Jersey and communities around the world remember individuals who were lost to drug overdoses and those who have been saved from the depths of an overdose and given a second chance at life," Christie said in a statement.

"Addiction is a disease, and the associated stigma must be addressed so that more of our relatives, friends, neighbors and coworkers are empowered to get help, instead of suffering in silence from being shamed or disgraced. With prescription and illegal drug overdoses becoming the top cause of accidental death in the nation, it is time to shine a brighter light on this tragic issue."

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 50,000 people die each year in America from drug overdoses and another 2.5 million people are treated in emergency rooms for the misuse or abuse of drugs, Christie said.

The Governor urged those battling addiction to get help by calling 1-844-ReachNJ and logging on to
ReachNJ.gov
.